Swift Follow-up with the UKSwift Follow-up with the UK’’ssNetwork of Large RoboticNetwork of Large Robotic

TelescopesTelescopesM.F. Bode (Liverpool JMU)M.F. Bode (Liverpool JMU)

On behalf of the RoboNet-1.0, LiverpoolOn behalf of the RoboNet-1.0, LiverpoolTelescope and Telescope and FaulkesFaulkes Spectrograph Spectrograph

ConsortiaConsortia

OverviewOverview

RationaleRationale The TelescopesThe Telescopes InstrumentationInstrumentation Network OperationNetwork Operation The First Hour and Subsequent Follow-The First Hour and Subsequent Follow-

upup Conclusions and Future DevelopmentsConclusions and Future Developments

Robotic TelescopesRobotic TelescopesBasic problems:Basic problems: Most robotic telescopes are relatively small.Most robotic telescopes are relatively small. Hard to make existing large telescopes roboticHard to make existing large telescopes robotic

(expensive, non-robotic instruments, network security,(expensive, non-robotic instruments, network security,safety, etc.)safety, etc.)

Single telescopes inevitably limited in responseSingle telescopes inevitably limited in responseSolution:Solution: A A ““large telescopelarge telescope”” robotic network that can respond fast, robotic network that can respond fast,

requires no user intervention and has goodrequires no user intervention and has goodlatitude/longitude coverage.latitude/longitude coverage.

Opportunity:Opportunity: UK has three 2-m robotic telescopes with CCD camerasUK has three 2-m robotic telescopes with CCD cameras

and optical spectrographs (LT also has an IR camera).and optical spectrographs (LT also has an IR camera). e-Science technology to e-Science technology to optimiseoptimise response already response already

developed through developed through ““eSTAReSTAR”” project. project.

Telescope SpecificationsTelescope Specifications

Built by TTL (Liverpool)Built by TTL (Liverpool)Alt-Alt-azaz, 2-m primary (f/10 Cass), 2-m primary (f/10 Cass)Image quality < 0.4Image quality < 0.4’’’’ on-axis on-axisPointing < 2 Pointing < 2 arcsecarcsec r.m.sr.m.s..AutoguidedAutoguided tracking trackingMax slew rate > 2Max slew rate > 200 per sec per secFully roboticFully roboticHard-wired interrupt response toHard-wired interrupt response toGCN alerts in ~ 1 minuteGCN alerts in ~ 1 minuteFully opening enclosureFully opening enclosure

Telescope SitesTelescope Sites

Status: LT First Light July 2003; FTN First Light Dec 2003; FTS First Light July 2004. LT and FTN now in robotic operation

Telescope ManagementTelescope ManagementCentre at Liverpool JMUCentre at Liverpool JMU

Liverpool Telescope ScienceLiverpool Telescope Science Commenced January 2004 Commenced January 2004 E.g. E.g. MeikleMeikle et al SN programme et al SN programme Discovered by NRL 12/01/04 Discovered by NRL 12/01/04 In starburst galaxy NGC 3683 In starburst galaxy NGC 3683 Reported 15/01/04 (IAUC 8269) Reported 15/01/04 (IAUC 8269) Observed with LT 16/01/04 Observed with LT 16/01/04 (IAUC 8270) (IAUC 8270) Type Type IcIc, ~3 weeks post-max, ~3 weeks post-max Colours give A Colours give Avv>1 (in host)>1 (in host) Monitoring continues with LT Monitoring continues with LT

InstrumentationInstrumentationCommon Instruments:Common Instruments: CCD imaging camera + 8 position filterCCD imaging camera + 8 position filter

wheel (Sloan, wheel (Sloan, BessellBessell and narrow band and narrow bandfilters, filters, fovfov=4.6 =4.6 arcminarcmin))

Low resolution fibre-fed spectrographLow resolution fibre-fed spectrograph(R~1000, 4400-8500A, V=15 S/N=10(R~1000, 4400-8500A, V=15 S/N=10t=100 sec t=100 sec –– for FT, similar for LT low- for FT, similar for LT low-res spectrograph)res spectrograph)

Additional LT Instruments:Additional LT Instruments: Near IR camera (J~15 in 60 sec,Near IR camera (J~15 in 60 sec,

fovfov=1.7 =1.7 arcminarcmin)) Intermediate resolution spectrographIntermediate resolution spectrograph

(R=4000 and 8000, 3750-9000A, on LT(R=4000 and 8000, 3750-9000A, on LT2005)2005)

(All instruments permanently mounted (All instruments permanently mountedand deployable in ~30 sec)and deployable in ~30 sec)

Network OperationNetwork Operation e-Science Telescopes for Astronomicale-Science Telescopes for Astronomical

Research (eSTAR)Research (eSTAR)–– 24/7 science24/7 science–– Fast reaction scienceFast reaction science–– Distributed scheduling (global optimization Distributed scheduling (global optimization ––

““marketsmarkets””)) Collaboration led by Liverpool JMU andCollaboration led by Liverpool JMU and

Exeter UniversityExeter University Prototypes developed and proved (fundedPrototypes developed and proved (funded

by DTI and PPARC)by DTI and PPARC)

LT and FT LT and FT ProgrammesProgrammes + + RoboNetRoboNet(All (All ““long termlong term”” programmesprogrammes))

First Hour:First Hour: Liverpool Telescope GRB rapid-response (~ 1 min) Liverpool Telescope GRB rapid-response (~ 1 min)programmeprogramme ( (MundellMundell et al., Liverpool JMU) - 220 et al., Liverpool JMU) - 220hours optical/IR follow-up awarded.hours optical/IR follow-up awarded. Plus Plus PPARC funded (OPPARC funded (O’’Brien et al.) Leicester +Brien et al.) Leicester +Liverpool to build two further robotic spectrographsLiverpool to build two further robotic spectrographsand add 100 hours of and add 100 hours of FaulkesFaulkes Telescope time for Telescope time forrapid follow-up.rapid follow-up.

Subsequent Follow-up:Subsequent Follow-up: Liverpool Telescope PATT Liverpool Telescope PATT programmeprogramme ( (TanvirTanvir ––HertsHerts - et al.). - et al.). 2004 2004 –– RoboNet-1.0 consortium (Bode et al.) RoboNet-1.0 consortium (Bode et al.)awarded a further 250 hours awarded a further 250 hours FaulkesFaulkes Telescope time Telescope timefor longer time-base follow-up.for longer time-base follow-up.

ConclusionsConclusions Three essentially identical large robots Three essentially identical large robotson-stream this year (Liverpool Telescope,on-stream this year (Liverpool Telescope,FaulkesFaulkes Telescopes North and South) Telescopes North and South) We are establishing a global network by We are establishing a global network byadding time secured on adding time secured on FTsFTs to LT to LTcapabilitycapability GRB follow-up from Swift is a very GRB follow-up from Swift is a veryimportant part of the RoboNet-1.0important part of the RoboNet-1.0programme (the other being the search forprogramme (the other being the search forexoexo-planets) -planets) –– forerunner of full forerunner of full RoboNetRoboNet

(see http://(see http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/RoboNetwww.astro.livjm.ac.uk/RoboNet))

Commercial BreakCommercial Break

RoboNet-1.0 Project Scientist RoboNet-1.0 Project Scientistposition currently openposition currently open

(see September AAS Jobs Register)(see September AAS Jobs Register)